The Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched a comprehensive heat wave response plan aimed at protecting vulnerable residents and mitigating urban heat island effects through September. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 1 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea braces for another scorching summer, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched a comprehensive heat wave response plan aimed at protecting vulnerable residents and mitigating urban heat island effects through September.
Dubbed the “2025 Comprehensive Heat Wave Countermeasures,” the plan includes a wide array of initiatives: expanding urban cooling infrastructure, strengthening emergency responses during heat alerts, safeguarding at-risk groups, and integrating cultural and public welfare services into heat resilience strategies.
A core feature is the “Cooling City” project, which involves deploying 187 water-spraying vehicles to clean and cool 1,973 kilometers of roads during peak heat hours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). In the event of a heat wave warning, an additional 12 vehicles will be dispatched, and spraying frequency will increase up to six times a day in vulnerable areas.
Seoul will also expand rooftop “cool roofs” that reflect solar heat, install 13 cooling roads with water mist systems, and add 422 shade canopies and 21 new mist-spraying cooling fog zones. Key downtown areas including Gwanghwamun and Sungnyemun will see the creation of specialized cooling streets.
As scorching weather persisted across the nation on July 1, a cooling fog system was activated at Seoul Plaza amid heat wave advisories issued for most regions. (Yonhap)
Public health measures are central to the response. The city has scaled up its emergency monitoring network to 70 hospitals and equipped 280 emergency vehicles with heat illness response kits. Outreach teams will patrol high-risk areas such as homeless communities and shantytowns to identify and assist individuals experiencing heat-related symptoms.
Seoul’s program also emphasizes tailored protections for the elderly, persons with disabilities, outdoor workers, and residents in makeshift housing. Over 39,000 seniors will receive regular check-ins by support staff, while 27,000 severely disabled residents will be provided round-the-clock care.
Low-income households will be eligible for emergency financial aid and energy subsidies, including newly expanded summer energy vouchers.
Outdoor labor protections are also being tightened. Construction workers and public job participants will be guaranteed rest breaks and adjusted working hours based on perceived temperatures, with onsite inspections and education to prevent heat-related injuries.
In a bid to enhance public access to cooling centers, Seoul will conduct five rounds of inspections across its 25 districts and distribute QR-code stickers to help residents easily locate nearby cooling shelters. The city will also expand nighttime shelters and mobile cooling centers for gig workers and the homeless, while linking these facilities with cultural and wellness programs.
Districts across Seoul are implementing their own parallel heat safety measures. Seongdong-gu is operating 587 cooling facilities, including 202 shelters and 162 smart benches that regulate seat temperature.
Gwangjin-gu is working with local hospitals to monitor heat-related illnesses and provide outreach to high-risk residents. Jung-gu has launched its own heat shelter subsidy program for low-income seniors, providing hotel accommodations and expanding urban cooling through reflective roof coatings and additional water-spray cleaning in public spaces.
City officials say this year’s approach reflects both the growing intensity of summer heat events and an increased focus on climate adaptation. With average June temperatures already setting records in cities like Daegu, Seoul’s aggressive plan could become a model for urban heat resilience nationwide.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
